WO2020015395A1

WO2020015395A1 - Display panel, display device and method for manufacturing display panel

Info

Publication number: WO2020015395A1
Application number: PCT/CN2019/082085
Authority: WO
Inventors: 贾智帅
Original assignee: 昆山国显光电有限公司
Priority date: 2018-07-18
Filing date: 2019-04-10
Publication date: 2020-01-23
Also published as: CN108898954A; US20200152096A1; CN108898954B; US11315446B2

Abstract

The present application provides a display panel, a display device and a method for manufacturing the display panel. The display panel comprises a flexible screen body and a support membrane; the flexible screen body comprises a display area, a bending area and an extension area; two ends of the bending area are respectively connected to the display area and the extension area; the display area and the extension area are not coplanar; the support membrane is attached to a side opposite a display surface of the flexible screen body; and the support membrane comprises a first curing area and a second curing area, with the first curing area and the second curing area respectively corresponding to the display area and the extension area.

Description

Display panel, display device and display panel manufacturing method

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of display, and in particular, to a display panel, a display device, and a method for manufacturing a display panel.

Background technique

Flexible screens usually have poor display problems caused by folding. The stress generated after the flexible screen body is folded affects the reliability of the display module structure. In order to protect the flexible screen, it is often necessary to attach a support layer to the surface of the flexible screen. However, when the flexible screen body and the supporting layer are bent, a large bending stress is generated, which easily causes damage to the flexible screen body.

Summary of the invention

The present application provides a display panel, a display device, and a method for manufacturing a display panel, which can improve the stability of the display panel.

This application provides a display panel, which includes:

A flexible screen body including a display surface, the flexible screen body including a display area, a bend area and an extension area, the two ends of the bend area are respectively connected to the display area and the extension area, and the display area and the extension area are not coplanar;

The supporting film is attached to the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body and includes a first curing area and a second curing area. The first curing area and the second curing area respectively correspond to the display area and the extension area.

In one embodiment, the curing strength of the first curing zone is greater than that of the second curing zone.

In an embodiment, the supporting film further includes a curved region, the curved region is disposed between the first curing region and the second curing region, and the curved region corresponds to the bending region.

In one embodiment, the curing strength of the curved region is less than that of the first curing region and the second curing region.

In one embodiment, a plurality of grooves are disposed on a side of the bending region far from the bending region.

In an embodiment, a portion of the groove near the bending area is a bottom, and an area of a bottom of the groove is smaller than an area of an opening of the groove.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the support film in the first curing region and the thickness of the support film in the second curing region are both greater than the thickness of the support film in the curved region.

In an embodiment, a surface of the curved region remote from the curved region is provided with a reflective coating.

In one embodiment, the curved region includes a plurality of cured regions and a plurality of non-cured regions.

In one embodiment, the cured area and the non-cured area are both strip-shaped, and the cured area and the non-cured area are alternately disposed.

In one embodiment, the extending direction of the strip-shaped cured area and the non-cured area is consistent with the bending direction of the bending area.

In one embodiment, the outer periphery of the solidified region and the outer periphery of the non-cured region are jagged.

In one embodiment, the supporting film is made of a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyimide film.

The present application also provides a display device including the above display panel.

The application also provides a method for manufacturing a display panel. The method for manufacturing the display panel includes:

Provide a flexible screen with a display surface. The flexible screen includes a display area, a bent area, and an extended area. The two ends of the bent area are respectively connected to the display area and the extended area.

Attaching a support film to the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body;

The support film is divided into a first curing area, a second curing area, and a curved area. The curved area is located between the first curing area and the second curing area. The first curing area and the second curing area correspond to the display area and the extension area, respectively. , The bending area corresponds to the bending area;

A light shielding plate is arranged between the supporting film and the radiation source, and the light shielding plate is parallel to and opposite to the curved area;

Radiation curing the support film by a radiation source; and

The flexible screen body is bent and fixed toward the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body.

In one embodiment, the light shielding plate is provided with a hollow pattern.

In one embodiment, the radiation source irradiates the first curing area for a longer time than the second curing area.

In an embodiment, after the support film is divided into a first curing region, a second curing region, and a bending region, the method further includes:

Apply a reflective coating to the surface of the curved area away from the curved area.

In one embodiment, the reflective coating is a reflective paint.

In an embodiment, the radiation source is a combination of one or more of an ultraviolet lamp, an LED lamp, and a mercury lamp.

The display panel provided in the present application can enhance the support strength of the support film to the display area and the extension area by curing the first and second curing areas. At the same time, the bending stress generated by the flexible screen body and the supporting film at the bend can be reduced, so the stability of the display panel can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic diagram of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 3 is an expanded schematic view of a display panel according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a supporting film according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of curing a supporting film according to an embodiment of the present application.

detailed description

In order to make the purpose, technical solution, and advantages of the present application clearer, the display panel and the manufacturing method of the display panel of the present application will be further described in detail in the following through embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the application, and are not used to limit the application.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an embodiment of the present application provides a display panel 10. The display panel 10 includes a flexible screen body 100 and a support film 200 having a display surface. The flexible screen 100 includes a display area 110, a bending area 120 and an extension area 130. Two ends of the bending area 120 are connected to the display area 110 and the extension area 130, respectively. The display area 110 and the extended area 130 are not coplanar. The display area 110 and the extension area 130 are parallel. The support film 200 is attached on the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body 100. The support film 200 includes a first curing region 210 and a second curing region 220. The first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 correspond to the display region 110 and the extension region 130, respectively. That is, the first curing area 210 is attached to the display area 110 and the second curing area 220 is attached to the extension area 130.

The flexible screen 100 includes a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be provided with a structure such as a display driving circuit and a light emitting diode array. The flexible screen 100 is an OLED display. The flexible screen 100 may be bent along a certain direction, or may be bent along multiple directions at the same time. The display area 110 is used for displaying pictures. The periphery of the display area 110 may be provided with a frame. The frame can be used as a non-display area. When the display panel 10 needs to realize full-screen display, the width of the frame may be reduced, or the frame may not be provided.

The bending area 120 may be used for bending the flexible screen body 100. The bending region 120 may not have a clear dividing line. The size and bending diameter of the bending area 120 can be flexibly changed. In an embodiment, the material of the bending region 120 is more flexible than the material of the display region 110 and the extending region 130. The extension region 130 may be used for setting a circuit device. The flexible screen body 100 may include opposite front and back sides. The front side of the flexible screen body 100 is the display surface of the flexible screen body, that is, a picture can be displayed in the display area 110. A structure for supporting the flexible screen 100 may be provided on the back of the flexible screen 100. After the flexible screen 100 is bent, a U-shaped structure can be formed. The inner side of the U-shaped structure may be a back surface of the flexible screen body 100. The extension region 130 and the display region 110 are arranged in parallel so that the display panel 10 has a plate-like structure, which is convenient for fixing the flexible screen body 100.

The supporting film 200 may be used for supporting the flexible screen 100. After the flexible screen body 100 is bent, the flexible screen body 100 is liable to be damaged due to bending stress or external force that may be encountered. Supporting the flexible screen body 100 through the support film 200 can increase the strength of the flexible screen body 100 and avoid damage to the flexible screen body 100.

The supporting film 200 may be a material having strength and toughness. In one embodiment, the supporting film 200 may be made of a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyimide film. Polyethylene terephthalate film or polyimide film has good strength and toughness and is economical.

The display area 110 and the extension area 130 of the flexible screen body 100 are two planes, respectively, and are easily affected by external forces. Therefore, the area of the support film 200 corresponding to the display area 110 and the extension area 130 needs to be Has strong hardness and strength. In one embodiment, the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 may be formed on the support film 200 by high temperature curing or radiation curing. The cured support film 200 may have good strength and hardness.

In the display panel 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application, the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 of the support film 200 can enhance the support strength and hardness of the support film 200 to the display region 110 and the extension region 130. At the same time, the bending stress generated by the flexible screen 100 and the supporting film 200 in the bending region 120 can be reduced, so the stability of the display panel 10 can be improved.

In one embodiment, the curing strength of the first curing region 210 is greater than the curing strength of the second curing region 220. Since the display area 110 is generally provided with a layer structure having a relatively weak texture such as a touch-sensitive layer and a polarizer, and the display area 110 is susceptible to external pressure or impact, the display area 110 needs a strong strength and hardness. Since the curing strength of the first curing region 210 is greater than that of the second curing region 220, the supporting strength of the supporting film 200 to the display region 110 can be enhanced, and at the same time, the supporting film 200 can have A certain degree of toughness can cushion the impact of external forces.

In one embodiment, the supporting film 200 further includes a curved region 230. The curved region 230 is disposed between the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220. Both ends of the curved region 230 are connected to the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220, respectively. The bending region 230 corresponds to the bending region 120, that is, the bending region 230 is attached to the bending region 120. The curing strength of the curved region 230 is less than that of the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220.

Since the bending region 230 is attached to the bending region 120, the bending region 230 and the bending region 120 are bent at the same time. The bent area 120 of the flexible screen body 100 is located at the edge of the display panel 10 after being bent, and is easily damaged by bumps. At the same time, after the bending area 120 of the flexible screen body 100 is bent, bending stress is generated and the compression resistance is poor. Therefore, by curing the curved region 230 to a certain extent, the strength of the support film 200 in the curved region 230 can be increased. By making the curing strength of the curved region 230 lower than that of the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220, it can be ensured that the support film 200 has both flexibility and strength in the curved region 230. At the same time, the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 have higher strength and hardness.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, in one embodiment, a plurality of grooves 231 are provided on a side of the curved region 230 away from the curved region 120. Since the bending stress will be generated in the bending region 230 after the supporting film 200 is bent, the deformation stress in the bending region 230 can be reduced through the groove 231, and the life of the supporting film 200 is further improved.

In an embodiment, a portion of the groove 231 near the bending area 120 is a bottom, and an area of the bottom of the bending area 120 is smaller than an opening area of the groove 231. In the bending region 230, the farther away from the bending region 120, the greater the deformation stress generated by the support film 200. By making the area of the bottom of the groove 231 smaller than the area of the opening of the groove 231, the deformation stress of the bending region 230 of the support film 200 can be uniformly released.

In one embodiment, the shape of the groove 231 may be tapered. The tapered opening is located on a surface of the curved region 230 away from the curved region 120.

In an embodiment, the thickness of the support film 200 in the first curing region 210 and the thickness of the support film 200 in the second curing region 220 are both greater than the thickness of the support film 200 in the curved region 230. The supporting film 200 needs to have better flexibility in the bending region 230. By reducing the thickness of the bending region 230, the flexibility of the supporting film 200 in the bending region 230 can be improved. The areas of the support film 200 corresponding to the display area 110 and the extension area 130 require higher strength and hardness. By making the supporting film 200 have a larger thickness in the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220, the strength and hardness of the supporting film 200 in the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 can be enhanced.

In one embodiment, a reflective coating 232 is disposed on a surface of the curved region 230 away from the curved region 120. The supporting film 200 may be cured by means of light irradiation. Since the supporting film 200 needs to have better flexibility in the bending region 230, the curing strength of the bending region 230 may be weaker than that of the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220. By providing a reflective coating 232 on the surface of the curved area 230 away from the curved area 120, the curing degree of the radiation area to the curved area 230 can be weakened, and thus the curved area 230 can be guaranteed to have a certain flexibility. In one embodiment, the reflective coating 232 may be a reflective paint.

Referring to FIG. 4, in an embodiment, the curved region 230 includes a plurality of cured regions 233 and a plurality of non-cured regions 234. The cured regions 233 and the non-cured regions 234 may be alternately disposed. The pattern of the cured region 233 and the pattern of the non-cured region 234 may be designed according to the stress change of the support film 200 in the curved region 230. After the supporting film 200 is bent, a large deformation stress is generated in the cured region 233. A part of the deformation stress in the cured region 233 can be released through the non-cured region 234, so that the life of the supporting film 200 can be improved.

In one embodiment, the cured regions 233 and the non-cured regions 234 are both strip-shaped, and the cured regions 233 and the non-cured regions 234 are alternately disposed. The extending direction of the strip-shaped cured area 233 and the non-cured area 234 may be the same as the bending direction of the bending area 120. After the supporting film 200 is bent, in the bent region 230, the deformation stress generated in the cured region 233 can be uniformly released to the adjacent non-cured region 234.

In one embodiment, the outer periphery of the cured region 233 and the outer periphery of the non-cured region 234 are indented with each other. The zigzag design can increase the contact area between the cured area 233 and the non-cured area 234 and facilitate the transfer of deformation stress.

Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present application further provides a method for manufacturing a display panel. The display panel manufacturing method can be used for manufacturing the display panel 10 provided in the above embodiments. The display panel manufacturing method includes:

S10. Provide a flexible screen body 100 with a display surface. The flexible screen body 100 includes a display area 110, a bending area 120, and an extension area 130, wherein two ends of the bending area 120 are respectively connected to the display area 110 and the extension area 120;

S20. Attach a support film 200 to the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen 100;

S30. The support film 200 is divided into a first curing region 210, a second curing region 220, and a curved region 230. The curved region 230 is located between the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220, and the first curing region 210 and the second The curing area 220 corresponds to the display area 110 and the extension area 130, respectively, and the curved area 230 corresponds to the bending area 120;

S40. A light shielding plate 300 is provided between the support film 200 and the radiation source 400, and the light shielding plate 300 is parallel to and opposite to the curved area 230;

S50. The supporting film 200 is radiation-cured by the radiation source 400.

S60. The flexible screen body 100 is bent and fixed toward the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body 100.

In step S40, the light shielding plate 300 can prevent or reduce the curing of the support film 200 in the curved area 230. Therefore, it can be ensured that the bending region 230 has a certain flexibility to facilitate bending.

In one embodiment, the light shielding plate 300 may be provided with a hollow pattern. A portion of the curved region 230 can be cured by the hollow pattern, and the strength of the support film 200 in the curved region 230 can be improved to a certain extent.

In one embodiment, the radiation source 400 radiates the surface of the support film 200 uniformly. The radiation intensity of the radiation source 400 in different regions can also be changed according to different requirements of the curing degree of the support film 200 in different regions.

In step S50, the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 are radiation-cured by the radiation source 400, which can enhance the support strength and hardness of the support film 200 in the display region 110 and the extension region 130. At the same time, the bending of the bending area 120 of the flexible screen body 100 is not affected, so the stability of the flexible screen body 100 can be improved.

In step S60, after the flexible screen 100 is bent, the bending area 230 of the supporting film 200 is fixed, so as not to affect the bending of the supporting film 200. When the supporting film 200 is bent, since the flexibility of the bending region 230 is good, no excessive deformation stress is generated. Fixing the curved area 230 after the flexible screen body 10 is bent enhances the strength of the curved area 230 of the support film 200, so that the internal circuit of the flexible screen body 100 can be prevented from being broken and damaged, and the flexible screen is improved The life of the body 100 and the support film 200.

In an embodiment, in step S50, the first curing region 210 and the second curing region 220 are cured by radiation. The radiation source 400 may be a combination of one or more of an ultraviolet lamp, an LED lamp, a mercury lamp, and the like.

In an embodiment, the radiation time of the radiation source to the first curing region 210 is greater than the radiation time of the second curing region 220. Therefore, the curing degree of the first curing region 210 is greater than the curing degree of the second curing region 220. Since the display area 110 is generally provided with a layer structure having a relatively weak texture such as a touch-sensitive layer and a polarizer, and the display area 110 is susceptible to external pressure or impact, it needs strong strength and hardness. By making the curing strength of the first curing region 210 greater than that of the second curing region 220, the supporting strength of the supporting film 200 to the display region 110 can be enhanced, and at the same time, the supporting film 200 can have a certain toughness in the second curing region 220. To cushion the impact of external forces.

In an embodiment, step S30 further includes: applying a reflective coating 232 on the surface of the bending region 230 away from the bending region 120.

In this embodiment, by providing a reflective coating 232 on the surface of the bending region 120 away from the bending region 120, the curing degree of the bending region 230 by the light radiation can be weakened, and thus the bending region 230 can be guaranteed to have a certain flexibility. In one embodiment, the reflective coating 232 may be a reflective paint.

The technical features of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. In order to make the description concise, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments have not been described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be It is considered to be the range described in this specification.

The above embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present application, and the description thereof is more specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as a limitation of the scope of the patent. It should be noted that, for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several modifications and improvements can be made, which all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application patent shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

A display panel includes:

A flexible screen body including a display surface, the flexible screen body including a display area, a bend area, and an extension area, and two ends of the bend area are respectively connected to the display area and the extension area, and the display area and the extension area The extensions are not coplanar; and

The supporting film is attached on the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body, and includes a first curing area and a second curing area. The first curing area and the second curing area respectively correspond to the display area and the display area. The extension area.
The display panel of claim 1, wherein a curing strength of the first curing region is greater than a curing strength of the second curing region.
The display panel of claim 1, wherein the support film further comprises a curved region, the curved region being disposed between the first cured region and the second cured region, the curved region corresponding to the curved region Fold zone.
The display panel of claim 3, wherein a curing strength of the curved region is less than a curing strength of the first curing region and the second curing region.
The display panel of claim 3, wherein a plurality of grooves are provided on a side of the curved area remote from the curved area.
The display panel of claim 5, wherein a portion of the groove near the bending area is a bottom, and an area of a bottom of the groove is smaller than an area of an opening of the groove.
The display panel of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the support film in the first curing region and a thickness of the support film in the second curing region are both greater than a thickness of the support film in the curved region.
The display panel of claim 3, wherein a surface of the curved area remote from the curved area is provided with a reflective coating.
The display panel of claim 3, wherein the curved region includes a plurality of cured regions and a plurality of non-cured regions.
The display panel according to claim 9, wherein the cured area and the non-cured area are both strip-shaped, and the cured area and the non-cured area are alternately disposed.
The display panel according to claim 10, wherein an extending direction of the strip-shaped solidified area and the non-cured area coincides with a bending direction of the bending area.
The display panel according to claim 10, wherein an outer periphery of the cured region and an outer periphery of the non-cured region have a zigzag shape that engages with each other.
The display panel of claim 1, wherein the supporting film is made of a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyimide film.
A display device comprising the display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
A method for manufacturing a display panel includes:

Providing a flexible screen with a display surface, the flexible screen including a display area, a bent area, and an extension area, and two ends of the bent area are respectively connected to the display area and the extension area;

Attaching a support film to the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body;

The support film is divided into a first curing area, a second curing area, and a curved area, the curved area is located between the first curing area and the second curing area, and the first curing area and the A second curing area corresponding to the display area and the extension area, and the curved area corresponding to the bending area;

A light shielding plate is provided between the supporting film and the radiation source, and the light shielding plate is parallel to and opposite to the curved area;

Radiation-curing the support film by the radiation source; and

The flexible screen body is bent and fixed toward the opposite side of the display surface of the flexible screen body.
The method of claim 15, wherein the light shielding plate is provided with a hollow pattern.
The method of manufacturing a display panel according to claim 15, wherein the radiation time of the radiation source to the first curing area is longer than that of the second curing area.
The method for manufacturing a display panel according to claim 15, wherein after the supporting film is divided into a first curing region, a second curing region, and a bending region, further comprising:

A reflective coating is applied to a surface of the curved area remote from the curved area.
The method for manufacturing a display panel according to claim 18, wherein the reflective coating is a reflective paint.
The method for manufacturing a display panel according to claim 15, wherein the radiation source is a combination of one or more of an ultraviolet lamp, an LED lamp, and a mercury lamp.